Great Yearbooks Start with a Plan
Guidelines, styles, deadlines and brainstorming to capture the memories.
The power of collaboration
As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
— Amy Poehler, Comedian and writer
ARTICLES FROM OUR EXPERTS
Fail to plan, plan to fail
Calendars, to-do lists, sticky notes, reminders on your phone — whatever the tool, whatever the challenge, planning is the most critical step to creating a memorable (and complete) yearbook.
A take on theme
Learn how these students brought “Focus” to creating their yearbook theme and how one idea can truly take shape over time.
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Modular means more
Modular content and modular design is a great way to embed additional coverage in your yearbook.
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Photo coverage right now
Getting back into the swing of the yearbook season with a photography plan is a back-to-school must.
read moreYearbook Pro-Tips
Team building
You're on a deserted island... What's for breakfast?
In this quick, simple (and often revealing) ice-breaker, ask participants to consider and decide foods that they would choose to live on for a year if stranded on a desert island, with nothing else to eat or drink, other than water. (The facilitator can determine finer points of the rules such as if there’s anything with which to cook, if there are any condiments, etc.)
After considering their selection for a few minutes, each person shares with the group what three foods they would chose and why. For larger groups, you can assign teams of three and have them come up with a selection of three foods that satisfy all members of their team. The point of the exercise is to get participants thinking about something completely different, in a way that allows them to express their own likes and dislikes to the group in a positive way. You'll get to know each other -- get each other ready for future feedback and critique sessions!
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Share your story
Tell us how you plan
Do you have a specific way you set up your yearbook program? Do something unique with the ladder? Each school has their own style to planning the yearbook and we want to hear from you.
Share with us how you plan your yearbook, from staff guidelines to project management. We’d love to share your words of wisdom with other advisers.